Their new store will be at 3916 E. Franklin Blvd. in the Franklin Square Shopping Center near h.h. gregg and Ashley Furniture. The owners hope to open the store before Thanksgiving.

While attending franchise training, the McGinnises learned various operational aspects of a specialty retail business.

“Not only do you have the backroom operations of managing staff and inventory, but you also have the front room and ensuring that every customer has an exceptional shopping experience. We really encourage our customers to come in and chat about the birds that are coming to their backyard,” Greg McGinnis said.

He and Myra McGinnis are new to specialty retail. His background is in local government and he will serve as the on-site manager. She works in the health care industry and will continue her full-time job, helping out on weekends and holidays.

The two said they have always wanted to team up in a small business. Their father and his brothers were retailers in Kings Mountain with McGinnis Furniture store.

“This is a terrific opportunity with a top-notch franchisor to combine our passion for owning our own business with the added benefit of bringing a little joy into peoples’ lives through the hobby of backyard bird feeding,” said Myra McGinnis.

“Wild Birds Unlimited has been outstanding in every aspect of guiding us through this process. They have been in business for 30 years …

“We are Certified Bird-feeding Specialists who can help customers attract the birds they want according to their yard and habitat, the time of year and our region,” said Greg McGinnis. “We can also help with potential nature problems such as squirrels eating your bird food.”